New guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Dongiroldala’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Dongiroldala’ characterized by its moderately compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and full appearance; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; large ruffled reddish purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIROLDALA’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant. Inventor and Applicant claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongiroldala’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching, early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2018 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN15-588729-003, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongimprolhopin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,148, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since June, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongiroldala’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongiroldala’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Moderately compact, upright to outwardly spreading and         mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and full appearance.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Large ruffled reddish purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens are more mounding than and not as         upright as plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are more ruffled and         undulating than flowers of plants of the female parent         selection.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are reddish purple in         color whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection         are dark pink in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Dongimprolhopin’. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Dongimprolhopin’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are reddish purple in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Dongimprolhopin’ are brighter red purple in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Kialdan’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,029. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Kialdan’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         ‘Kialdan’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Kialdan’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are ruffled and         undulating whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kialdan’ are flat and         not ruffled.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are reddish purple in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kialdan’ are light purple in         color with white-colored centers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Kironanete’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,753. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Kironanete’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Kironanete’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are ruffled and         undulating whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kironanete’ are         undulating and not ruffled.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are reddish purple in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Kironanete’ are dark cherry         red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongiroldala’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Dongiroldala’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in winter and early spring in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 4,500 lux. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photographs were taken and 17 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongiroldala’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN15-588729-003, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri             ‘Dongimprolhopin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,148. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Moderately compact, upright to             outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; broad inverted             triangle in overall shape; freely branching habit with             lateral branches potentially developing at every node; dense             and full appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 26 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 50 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 19 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 cm to 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, stout; flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing and fully developed.—Close to 148A             variably overlain with close to 185A and 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls; simple.         -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to narrowly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Initially, close to             146A becoming closer to 147A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Initially, close to 146A to 146B becoming closer to             147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A;             venation, close to 144A to 144B. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 147B; midvein, close to 183A to 183B             and lateral venation, close to 183A and 183B and distally,             closer to 147B and 146B.         -   Petiole length.—About 2 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 3.5 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 148B to             148C variably overlain with close to 187C and 183A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single, large ruffled             rounded rectangular axillary flowers; freely flowering             habit, typically about five to seven open flowers and flower             buds per lateral branch; flowers positioned above and beyond             the foliar plane, flowers typically face mostly upright to             outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about eleven weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Ovoid; rosebud-like when opening. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B             overlain with close to 185C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.7 cm by 6.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.25 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl. Length, banner petal: About 3.3 cm. Length,             lateral petals: About 3 cm. Length, lower petals: About             4.4 cm. Width, banner petal: About 4.75 cm. Width, lateral             petals: About 4 cm. Width, lower petals: About 4.4 cm.             Shape, all petals: Broadly obcordate. Apex, all petals:             Emarginate with praemorse tendencies. Base, all petals:             Truncate to attenuate. Margin, all petals: Mostly entire             with occasional and random indentations; undulate and             ruffled and frilled appearance. Texture and luster, all             petals, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly             glossy; iridescent. Texture and luster, all petals, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy; iridescent.             Color, all petals: When opening, upper surface: Close to             NN74A. When opening, lower surface: Close to NN74B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN74A; venation, close to             NN74A; color does not change with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN74B to NN74C; venation, close to             NN74B to NN74C; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             one modified into an elongated spur. Lateral sepal length:             About 1.5 cm. Lateral sepal width: About 6.5 mm. Spur sepal             length: About 1.6 cm. Spur sepal width: About 1.9 cm. Sepal             shape: Broadly deltoid to broadly ovate. Sepal apex:             Acuminate. Sepal base: Truncate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to             NN155D. Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 144C to 144D             variably tinged with close to 54A. Spur length: About             3.75 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less             than 1 mm. Spur texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Spur color: Close to 60A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About             2.25 mm. Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong;             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy             to glossy. Color: Close to 144B variably overlain with close             to 183A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther size: About 3 mm by 1 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             5 mm. Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A.             Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongiroldala’ as illustrated and described. 